Chapter 130
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Proper Education (5)
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Ha Yu-ri was currently being held in detention.
Of course, the royal palace wouldn't just leave a powerhouse like her unguarded. They'd fitted her with mana-sealing restraints.
Just in case she went on a rampage in the palace—it would be a nightmare to deal with the aftermath.
It wasn't that the palace couldn't handle one Ha Yu-ri, but they'd still suffer damage in the process.
'From my perspective, that's a good thing.'
Naturally, it was a favorable outcome for me.
I had no desire to meet her one-on-one while she could still muster her mana.
Thanks to that, I headed to her detention spot with a relaxed mind.
"This is the place. You can go in."
Following the guide, I arrived at what looked like a rather luxurious guest room.
Despite the drug trafficking suspicions, she was still the master of one of the three great clans, and her guilt hadn't been proven yet, so they were treating her decently.
Stepping inside, I saw Ha Yu-ri sitting on the sofa, restraints and all.
And just as I'd spotted her, she'd spotted me.
She stared blankly at me for a moment, then clenched her fists and began trembling with rage.
"You... you... it was you? You did this?!"
She'd figured out I'd orchestrated it.
And how could she not? In this situation, there was no reason for me to visit her.
I'd told Ray Hakter I had a business proposal and needed to see her, but in truth, we both tacitly acknowledged that I was the mastermind behind it all—even without hard evidence.
"Long time no see, Instructor Ha Yu-ri."
I flashed a bright smile and continued.
"Actually, now that I think about it, you're not an instructor anymore, are you?"
"You... you...!"
Ha Yu-ri strode toward me and grabbed my collar with her restrained hands.
"You! A punk like you! How dare you...!"
'Hmm...'
"What the hell is this?! What grudge do you have against me?!"
She'd always used polite language before, but the absurdity and fury of the situation had her dropping all pretense.
I got it, though. From her standpoint, she never could have imagined me as the one pulling the strings.
Especially since she hadn't directly harmed me yet. She must have no clue why I'd go this far.
Sure, she'd been hostile, but framing her as a drug dealer felt excessive for that alone.
'Honestly, even I admit it's a bit much.'
"Well... truthfully, there's no big reason."
"...What?"
"Just... if I had to pick one, you were rude to me. Right?"
"What... did you say?"
'She can make that face too.'
Back at the training facility, I'd only seen her arrogant or haughty expressions, so watching her dumbfounded look was entertaining.
"I admit it was overkill, but honestly, weren't you the one acting like a total bitch? Just because I'm a dark sorcerer."
"What...?"
"Back in the tutorial, talking about how I'd committed atrocities, how I'm a villain so only dark sorcerer was on my job list."
"......"
"So, that's it. I decided to become that villain."
"You're... you're messing with me right now...?"
"Messing? With what?"
I couldn't hold back the grin.
"All this... just for that... you made me out to be a drug dealer?"
"Hey, don't say it like that—people might misunderstand. It's not like I handed you the drugs; you did them and distributed them yourself."
"Cut the bullshit wordplay! How'd you do it? How did you plant all that evidence in my clan?!"
"You're saying weird stuff again. You hid the drugs after using them yourself and left records of getting supplies from the Heukchae Clan—what are you talking about?"
Fuming at my taunts, Ha Yu-ri spat out a curse.
"You fucking bastard!"
She swung her restrained arms with all her might, but even if I was weak, I wasn't someone who'd fail to dodge that.
"Whoa! Swinging out of nowhere like that."
I hadn't planned to toy with her this much, but her reactions were so novel that I found myself enjoying it.
"Kyaa!"
Unable to overcome the momentum of her swing, Ha Yu-ri toppled over.
"Pfft...! What are you doing?"
"......"
It was so ridiculous that a laugh burst out involuntarily.
"Hey, Instructor? What are you doing face-down...?"
"...Hic... Hnng... Hwaaang..."
'What? Is she... crying?'
I was taken aback by Ha Yu-ri suddenly sobbing face-down.
"Hic... Hwaaa... Hng..."
"...Are you crying right now?"
"Hng... Sniff..."
She wept pitifully in that position for a while, so I waited silently until her sobs nearly subsided before speaking.
"...Um, hey?"
"Hic... Shut up...."
Ha Yu-ri got up clumsily and glared at me.
"You goddamn bastard...."
"Well... seeing a grown woman bawling isn't exactly pleasant."
"It's because of you!"
"So what do you want me to do about it?"
"...Call off this bullshit right now."
Her words nearly drew a scoff from me.
"...Sorry, but do you think I'll let you off because you squeezed out some juice?"
"...I was wrong. I apologize for being rude to you, so stop this now!"
"That apology doesn't sound sincere."
"......"
After agonizing for a bit, Ha Yu-ri bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut.
Thud.
I was genuinely shocked. No matter how dire her situation, I hadn't expected her to kneel before me.
She even went full dogeza.
"Sorry... I'm sorry... I was wrong, so please... please spare my clan...."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she apologized, looking utterly humiliated, but she'd at least set aside some pride.
'...This is unexpected.'
Given her position, bowing to someone like me wouldn't be easy.
The Madan Clan must truly mean the world to her.
Put myself in her shoes—if my hard-earned clan's safety hung on some enemy, I'd lick the soles of their shoes.
I crouched down to meet her gaze and spoke.
"Alright, then. How about a deal, Ha Yu-ri?"
She reacted to the word "deal."
"What kind...?"
"I'll keep you from execution and preserve the Madan Clan. Top three clan status intact."
"R-Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Th-Then, Trainee Lee Yun-seong... I believed in you. Right? You wouldn't go that far with me?"
"Hmm..."
"I-I know I messed up, but we can be friends now, yeah?! Huh? I'll be good."
"We'll see. Let's take it step by step. First, we'll clear the suspicions of Madan Clan trading drugs with Heukchae Clan."
"H-How?"
"We'll say Heukchae Clan framed you because they couldn't handle their debt to Madan. They already owe quite a bit."
"That's true, but... how'd you know?"
"You don't need to know that. Anyway, you'll be cleared of charges, and Madan Clan's position will recover."
"Thank you... Thank you, Lee Yun-seong. I knew I could count on—"
"So, now let's talk about what you can do for me."
"...Huh, what?"
"I said deal, remember? If I'm giving you something, shouldn't you give me something too?"
"Ah... Haha... L-Lee Yun-seong, b-but... you put me in this mess..."
She'd swallowed her pride but still hadn't grasped the situation.
"Sigh... Ha Yu-ri."
"......"
"Why are you like this? Haven't you figured it out yet? Do I look like a pushover?"
"Wh-Why... You're a good person, right?"
"Nope. Let's pretend this never happened."
As I shook my head and turned to leave, Ha Yu-ri cried out from her slumped position.
"What the hell do you want from me?!"
'Heh, there it is.'
"What do I have to do to make you stop?!"
I approached the panting Ha Yu-ri, grabbed her chin, and lifted it.
"Ha Yu-ri, I'll preserve your social status, your clan—everything. So, let's make a slave contract."
"...What?"
At "slave contract," Ha Yu-ri stared blankly at me.
She looked brain-dead for a second, nearly making me laugh, but I held it in and continued.
"Exactly what it sounds like. Become my slave. Do whatever I say."
"You... what are you planning to do to me...? Don't tell me...?"
Gesturing at her body with a disgusted look, she was clearly misunderstanding.
"You're jumping to weird conclusions. I have no interest in your body. What I want is your power and the Madan Clan's strength."
"You think... I'll accept that?"
"Hmm... then you'll die ugly. Not a clean death. Okay with that?"
"You...!"
Ha Yu-ri clamped her mouth shut mid-sentence, fuming.
She'd accept my offer.
She had no choice.
People at her level don't easily abandon their status or possessions.
The situation was beyond what her personal strength could fix.
No alternatives—she had to take my hand.
"........"
Slumped there, her eyes unfocused, head bowed.
"Need time to think? Should I step out? I can give you a day."
"......."
"Looks like you do. I'll come back tomorrow. Make a wise choice."
"......."
As I turned to open the door, her weak voice came.
"...I'll do it."
I stopped in my tracks.
"Did I hear that right?"
"...I'll do it. Slave."
I approached and looked down at her.
"...No need to decide right now."
"...Promise me instead."
"Promise what?"
"Do whatever you want with me. Humiliate me however. But... keep your promise about my clan."
'Well, well...'
A sly grin spread across my face.
"Haha, of course. So... shall we test that resolve?"
"...What do you want me to do?"
I smiled and replied.
"Slaves obey their master. Right? You said to humiliate you, so let's try."
"......."
"Bark like a dog. Crawl on all fours, woof woof woof."
'Can you really do this?'
A command to utterly shatter her pride as a person.
I figured she wouldn't, but she exceeded expectations.
"...Woof!"
"...Ha, haha...!"
"Woof woof! Woof woof woof!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Completely abandoning her humanity.
Tears streaming from humiliation and sorrow, yet desperately pleasing me.
"Woof woof! Master! Woof woof woof!"
Calling me "Master" unprompted even impressed me.
The sight of Ha Yu-ri crawling on all fours, barking like a dog after submitting—it felt dangerously thrilling.
"Woof woof! Woof woof woof! Woof woof woof!"
I savored my newly enslaved Ha Yu-ri for quite a while.